Product reviews: yoghurt

A question I am commonly asked is – ‘what yoghurt brand is the best one to buy?’ Whilst this may not be a huge concern to those who do not need to watch their weight, it is useful to be aware of some of the better choices out there.

Is any fat reduced variety of yoghurt going to be as good as the next? Not really. Unfortunately some brands remove the fat and make up for it with sugar. This way they can still label it as ‘fat free’ or ‘fat reduced’ when in actual fact, it is high in sugar and hence energy (kilojoules or calories).

Below I briefly discuss 4 brands currently on the market and why they may be suited to you.

Ski Soleil

Fat content: This yoghurt is fat free. So straight up it is good if you are watching your fat intake – a good thing for everyone to do.

Sugar: This brand of yoghurt is low in sugar! You do not need to worry about them having added mounds of the stuff to make it taste good.

Sweeteners: Ski Soleil does use artificial sweeteners, which is common in yoghurts that have reduced the fat and sugar content.

Energy: The fact that it has low sugar content, and that it is fat free, means that it is also low in energy – good for people watching their weight or wanting a lighter snack. Most flavours will have around 60 calories per serve/ individual tub.

The verdict: This yoghurt is very low in energy and fat. It is therefore a great option for those trying to lose weight or simply wanting a fat reduced dairy option. In saying that, if you do not like the idea of artificial sweeteners, it may not be the best option for you. The consistency is similar to that of full fat yoghurt and it comes in both tub and single serve portions.

Yoplait forme

Fat content: Again, this one is fat free!

Sugar: Less than 1% added sugar

Sweeteners: Yoplait forme also uses artificial sweeteners to make up for the sugar that has not been added in.

Energy: This is another low energy option due to the very small amounts of fat and sugar. Most flavours will have 70 calories or below per serve/ individual tub.

The verdict: This yoghurt has a low fat and calorie content but has a less viscous consistency than the Ski Soleil. So if you like a thicker texture, you may want to sit this one out. It also contains artificial sweeteners that are not for everyone. It comes in both a tub and individual serve as well.

Vaalia yoghurt

Fat content: Below 1% total fat for the individual tubs or below 2% for the low fat tubs.

Sugar: No added sugar and less than 11g of sugar per serve

Sweeteners: No artificial sweeteners are used!

Energy: Less than 70 calories per single serve or under 100 calories per serve of the low fat tub.

The verdict: This is a fantastic option if you prefer something a little bit more natural. It is low energy, no added sugar, fat free AND does not use any artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. It comes in both a tub and individual varieties. The 99% fat free, no added sugar tubs (pictured on the bottom right) are particularly good for weight management.

Chobani

Fat content: You have the choice of low fat or no fat!

Sugar: The sugar content is higher than the previously mentioned brands at around 19g per serve. These varieties do however contain more fruit which has the natural sugar fructose.

Sweeteners: Chobani is not free of artificial sweeteners

Energy: Chobani has a higher energy content than the other 3 yoghurts discussed. Depending on the flavour, their fat free varieties have around 145 calories or below. Their low fat varieties have around 165 calories per tub.

The verdict: Chobani is an option for Greek yoghurt. It has a richer and thicker texture than all of the other yoghurts so if a recipe calls for Greek yoghurt – grab the fat free, natural flavour! It is still relatively low in calories if you purchase the fat free varieties. Additionally, the range is free of artificial colours, flavours and preservatives. It is also a higher protein yoghurt than others.

Contact us for results focused nutritional advice

This article was written by our dietitian Belinda Elwin who is a Dietitians Association of Australia member and Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist.

If you would like to find out more about the best products to buy or if you have any other nutrition related concerns, Contact us today!

References

About Belinda Elwin

Belinda is a fully Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Nutritionist who has experience working with both children and adults. She is constantly ensuring her knowledge is up to date by attending conferences, workshops and keeping on top of newly emerging evidence.

Belinda has worked within the community by conducting supermarket tours and regularly delivering presentations to schools and support groups. Additionally, she leads a healthy lifestyle program for children outside of the healthy weight range. During the week, she also works with inpatients in the public hospital system.

Belinda combines her experience and skill set to provide practical, client specific advice through dietary counselling. In particular, Belinda has a broad range of experience with weight management, diabetes, oncology, high cholesterol, malnutrition, childhood nutrition and gastrointestinal disorders. She is passionate about her career and helping others to improve their quality of life.